Crazy-Happy About The Mural On Our Building

I am psyched to share my excitement about the tompe l’oeil mural renowned muralist Byron Peck completed on our studio building!

The culmination of a 3 year project I managed, this mural is painted on the side of the building Bobbi and I own in the historic Old Town of Takoma Park, MD.  We navigated the historic work process, involved the community without unduly holding up the project, applied and received matching grants from the Sate of Maryland, and led a fundraising drive in partnership with our community foundation. 

Check out the comments I made at our mural celebration on Aug. 30:

Bobbi and I had a blank canvas, and as a community...a private-public joint venture if you will, we transformed a tired brick wall into a Gateway symbol, that you have arrived in a groovy, cool, and fun town center.

We all want a lively and safe downtown...and this mural is both a piece of art and an artful way to show we care about our community...sending that message to both long-time residents and new visitors.  Bobbi and I thank you all for supporting this project  and helping show we all care about our Main Street environs by taking a mundane brick wall and elevating it to a new level and  purpose.

I want to thank mural artist Byron Peck, who I first met photographing him on assignment for The Washington Post so many years ago...yes, it was an 80s thing...for coming through with this awesome treatment.  He's done so many great murals over the years...and our community is fortunate to have his work in our midst.

We also want to thank Byron's associates at City Arts, including Danna Reynolds and Erin Bryan for working with us and handling lots of logistics with grace and humor.

This mural would not be possible without the facade improvement grants, which provides 1/2 of the cost of the project, from the State of Maryland's Main Street program as administered by Takoma Main Street.

We thank all those neighbors, some we have known for many years, and some we are just meeting due to this mural, that have donated to help us attain the numbers needed for the matching grant...and this would never be possible without the Takoma Foundation, which partnered with us to house the donations, therefore making them tax deductible...and thus a bit more attractive.  Many Thanks to Howard Kohn, Pam Larson, Kathy Porter, along with others involved with the foundation...and Lauren Stillwell, who, as foundation staff, helped us keep track of the donations.  We also appreciate the good vibes and well-wishes of many who were unable to contribute financially, but whose enthusiasm for the mural contributed to it coming forth.

John Hume and the Takoma Main Street Design Comiittee saw merit in this project and we really appreciate their support in attaining the matching funds grant.  Roz Gribsby, our own Takoma Main Street manager has done a superb job of helping shepherd us through the process and I can't say enough about how vital she is to our downtown revitalization.

Also, from the City of Takoma Park, I want to thank the Facade Advisory Board, Sarah Daines, and Ilona Blanchard for their early help in preparing us properly to navigate this project.  

Josh Wright and his city council predessesor, Joy Austin Lane, who I guess now has never really left us,  have been instrumental also.

Lastly I want to thank Bobbi, who's artistic way of life, and support of art as an essential ingredient in the quality of people's lives, has elevated not only me and our sons, Max and Joe, but our entire community.

You can see more photos of the mural as it was painted at: http://kittner.com/mural/mural_gallery